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China explains veto of Syrian draft resolution

(Xinhua)

08:20, February 07, 2012

BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday said it will continue to play a positive role in the proper settlement of the Syrian issue after it vetoed a draft resolution on the country.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin made the remarks when asked why China vetoed the draft resolution at a regular press briefing.

Russia and China on Saturday both vetoed an Arab-European draft resolution backing an Arab League plan to promote regime change in Syria.

China has been closely following the situation in Syria, said Liu.

"We call on all parties in Syria to stop violence, avoid casualties of innocent civilians, restore order in the country as soon as possible, and respect the reasonable request of the Syrian people for reform and safeguarding of their own interests," he said. "This serves the fundamental interests of Syria and its people."

Liu said China supports the efforts made by the Arab League to facilitate a political settlement of the Syria issue and maintain stability in the region.

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（Editor：燕勐）

Leave your comment9 comments

Dennis in Germany at 2012-02-12173.9.49.*: China should act with self-confidence. What US thinks and reacts should play no bearing in Chinese Government's decision. US has no right to act as world's policeman!!
Tracker at 2012-02-08122.107.87.*: This is the type of people who want to replace the Syrian Government, people who believe if you have a different political opinion then they will shoot you. The shooting was in Australia by the way, far far away from Syria.http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/sydney-shooting-linked-to-syrian-politics/story-e6frfku0-1226264062192
UN Watcher at 2012-02-08184.183.155.*: China had an opportunity to take a leadership position about the future of the Middle East, but it deferred. How can any country turn a blind eye to what the Asaad regime is doing to its people? The government of China missed an opportunity by vetoing the resolution and is now spending a great deal of time and effort trying to justify its decision.
Canada at 2012-02-0870.36.49.*: Ask Harper what he will do if Canadian protesters take up arms to overthrow his government & shoot at police & military? Does he guarantee he will not use violence against the protesters? And if he does authorize violence, would he expect the UN to pass a resolution authorizing the bombing of Canada?
wende at 2012-02-0771.255.83.*: Did the Arab league really ask for regime change? If they did, they will also be the ones to step down in the near future. China needs to explain because anything said by US is spread throughout the world and the lies stay in people"s mind. The case of Syria has to be neutral. One cannot keep arming the opposition and pressuring Assad. Both the Syrian opposition and govt have to sit down and discuss for normalcy. The draft resolution is one sided in favor of the armed opposition. Western media keep mentioning these armed rebels as protesters and lump all the killings on the govt. If the demonstrators are unarmed and the killings happen, we can blame on the govt. But if both sides are armed, it is not too clear who is doing the killings. Maybe both do. US and their cohorts are not done. They will deal with Syria unilaterally just as they did in Libya. All their actions in Libya were outside of the resolutions. China must stand for justice. The rulers of the Arab League have to watch their backs. When the west find any opportunities, they will pounce on them one by one. US has been branding them as despots and it has all the reasons to take them out when the time is ripe.